MovieChat Forums > The Children's Hour (1961) Discussion > Wyler's Second Attempt at Telling This S...

Wyler's Second Attempt at Telling This Story

posted 15 years ago by ABetterDay
3 replies | jump to latest

Wyler first brought this story to the screen in 1936's These Three. However, the Breen Office was in full force at that time and the topic of lesbianism would never have been approved. So, as was the case in so many films, the story was radically changed. He brought this version to the screen 25 years later and, although not with the sledge hammer that would be used today, he was able to adequately introduce the topic of lesbianism in the mostly emasculated Breen era of the early 1960's.

I found Audrey Hepburn to be fascinating in this film. This movie, more than any other, is far outside her typical casting and I thought she carried this film on her shoulders (as she usually did in any film in which she appeared.) What a wonderful talent (and, obviously, so very easy at which to gaze for hours on end...)

Remember When Movies Didn't Have To Be Politically Correct?

[–] filmbuff87 14 years ago

Yeah, I'm very happy that he got Hepburn involved. MacLaine is wonderful, but Hepburn brings this classy ambience to the film.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6264/052311.gif

[–] poetcomic1 11 years ago

When Samuel Goldwyn wanted to purchase the play, the writers told him "You can't make that, its about lesbians." He said, "That alright we'll make them into Americans." Whatever else you say, the canny Goldwyn was the only studio head to bid on the hit play and he made it work despite the censorship.

[–] sirjeremy 11 years ago

I kind of wish he hadn't bothered. He butchered the play, removing much of the scenes of Martha's developing feelings for Karen, as well as a scene that strongly suggests that Karen killed herself after she confesses she's a lesbian, and not because of the lie. The film feels disjointed and oddly unmoving, ultimately; even Shirley MacLaine has said at least twice that Wyler didn't do his job properly.

At least we have the very poignant performance of Shirley MacLaine to treasure.